AMS Neve Introduces 8801 Channel Strip

Neve has introduced the 8801 Channel Strip, a combination mic preamp/ equalizer/ dynamics processing unit based on the Neve 88R console—widely considered among the best-sounding analogue music consoles ever developed. Completely hand-built and hand-wired by Neve in Burnley, England, the groundbreaking 8801 Channel Strip delivers the rich "analogue" signature synonymous with the Neve name...

Neve has introduced the 8801 Channel Strip, a combination mic preamp/equalizer/dynamics processing unit based on the Neve 88R console—widely considered among the best-sounding analogue music consoles ever developed. Completely hand-built and hand-wired by Neve in Burnley, England, the groundbreaking 8801 Channel Strip delivers the rich "analogue" signature synonymous with the Neve name—plus convenient Mac or PC-based control—in a convenient 1U rackmount design that's ideal for desktop producers and project studios.

"The 8801 allows desktop music makers and project studios to legitimately access the revered Neve sound, without the expense of purchasing a console or racks full of separate processors," commented Frank Massam, VP of Business Development at AMS Neve. "The combination of a genuine Neve mic amp, equalisation, dynamics and computer control in a single unit makes the 8801 an exceptional value. In fact, this unit has become one of the fastest-selling products in Neve history."

The 8801's signal path consists of an extremely high-quality Neve mic preamp, high and low pass filters, four bands of highly musical equalisation, a compressor, gate, dynamics side chain and an insert point. The order of the signal path can be easily modified as the producer requires. The filter section and/or the equalisation section can even be routed to the dynamics side chain to tailor the dynamics response of any input signal.

An optional Neve-designed analogue-to-digital converter accommodates all standard sample rates up to 192 kHz, as well as direct-to-DSD conversion. In listening tests, many engineers and producers preferred the sound of these Neve-designed converters to standalone converters costing more than the entire 8801 unit.

Neve's proprietary Recall software (Mac- and PC-compatible) allows the 8801 to be seamlessly integrated with workstations via USB, providing instantaneous recall of all external device settings. An essential tool for creativity, Recall combines the flexibility of a computer-based system with the power and sound quality of genuine Neve design. Quite simply, the 8801 is the most convenient way to give any serious studio the ultimate Neve analogue sound.

David Mellor has been creating music and recording in professional and home studios for more than 30 years. This website is all about learning how to improve and have more fun with music and recording. If you enjoy creating music and recording it, then you're definitely in the right place :-)